Automobile reverse control



Dec. 27, 1938. L. H. BROWNE AUTOMOBILE REVERSE CONTROL Original Filed March 28, 1934 INVENTOR Z/A/DS Y A. Bean m5.

M 4 3 ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 27, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Josiah Anstice & 00.,

corporation of New Yor Inc., Rochester, N. Y., a

Original application March 28, 1934, Serial No.

717,757, now Patent No. this application June 2,

8 Claims.

This application is a division of my pending application Serial No. 717,757 filed March 28, 1934.

This application is a continuation in part of my United States application Serial No. 649,890

5 filed January 3, 1933, entitled Back-rolling-lock control, which application was copending with my original application of which this is a division,

and which application has since matured as Patent No. 2,038,986 granted April 28, 1936.

This invention relates to the control of the operation of automobiles or like vehicles, and in particular relates to mechanism known as backrolling-lock, or reverse control'mechanism.

More particularly, the mechanism is for the 15 purpose of automatically effecting the prevention of back-rolling of a motor car and interrelated parts to provide certain particular automatic action of certainty of such as positive functioning, foolproofness, and particularly durability, as Well as simplicity of construction and means that assure positive action to meet all of the essential requirements of a device of this class.

In its preferred form as herewith illustrated 2 and heretofore more specifically described, it

comprises a control feature of a back-roll-stop in which the stopping or braking and holding is eifectedby a cam-ring engaging rollers adapted to lock on a cylindrical surface, which is so arranged as to permit locking, directly or indirectly, of the drive shaft or other suitable connection with the driving wheels, in one direction, and by slight rotary shifting of the relation of rollers and cam-ring to prevent the locking, and 35 therefore permit reverse movement of the car or rotation freely of the shaft, when desired, and effected by voluntary action of the driver automatically in the sense of requiring no other action by the driver beyond the action normally to involving the setting of reverse driving. In this application the invention relates to the means for automatically resetting the back-roll-stop when the car has been driven forward or moved forward a predetermined distance. It likewise 5 prevents any accidental resetting of the backroll-lock when the car is intentionally permitted to roll or is driven rearward. More particularly, the preferred embodiment involves a sleeve which by the action of the inter-related parts is fed 0 axially by the forward turning of the shaft, so that a predetermined number of turns causes a sleeve to move a predetermined distance, as de termined by the original design of each device, and with said definite movement to automatically it release the locking mechanism which permits an of the mechanism, for the purpose- 2,052,552. Divided and 1936, Serial No. 83,025

automatic setting of the back-roll-stop mechanism proper into its functioning position or condition.

Such release feed when inter-locking the setting mechanism to prevent back-roll-lock functioning, involves in this case the prevention of continuous turning of the feed sleeve when the car is rolling backward, and therefore comprises a one-way clutching of the automatic releasing sleeve when the car is in reverse, permitting the sleeve to remain stationary, but preserving all of the necessary features of coordination of parts for the movement of the sleeve, as by inter-engaging splines and grooves. By this construction I- prevent objectionable wear of some of the interengaging parts, and assure their certain positive functioning as required for the coordinated operation of the entire setting mechanism, and thereby the required operation of the mechanism as a whole.

In the form of embodiment hereinafter specifically described and shown in the accompanying drawings, the setting means for controlling of the reverse movement locking mechanism has a feed-release member turned by the forward rotation of the driving shaft in a manner that with the forward driving of the car, that is turning of the drive shaft in the direction of forward movement, a predetermined amount dependent upon the design and dimension of parts, will cause a feeding of the member by inter-engaging pin and spiral groove, in a direction that automatically releases the main setting elements out-of-locke'd position. The same mechanism by the action of the spring, after voluntarily throwing the transmission into reverse position, causes a positive locking to prevent any accidental resetting at times when such would be not alone detrimental, but wholly impracticable for a commercially successful equipment of this class. Furthermore, the member effecting the automatic feed for release is stationary when the car is rolling backward, and the engaging members of the feed release are not turned by the drive shaft, and. therefore completely avoid wear when intentionally back driving or rearward rolling.

The advantageous results of this construction may be embodied in various otherways, and the claims hereinafter are not to be considered limited as to the form herewithillustrated and described.

One form of embodiment of my invention is shown in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. I is a section on the axis of the power shaft the automatic hole closely fitting each ball,

of a motor car and the various parts of the backroll-stop mechanism and its setting mechanism.

Fig. II is a section, transverse of the axis of the shaft, and showing the release feed sleeve and its particular one-way clutch mounting.

Figure III is a cross section at right angles to the axis of the shaft, through balls Ed, on the line III-III, Figure I.

Figure IV is a similar cross section through balls 5, on the line IV-IV, Figure I.

The drive shaft B has a sleeve B suitably splined to it. A substantial collar I is splined to the sleeve to turn with it, and has an outer cylindrical surface adapted to engage rollers 2-2, and concentrically outside of the rollers is a camring 3 on which a series of inner cam faces are adapted each to engage a roller 2, and prevent the collar l, and therefore the shaft, from turning in the direction for rearward drive of the car. These essential parts of the reverse control mechanism are as shown in several of my patents granted April 28, 1936, and particularly Patent No. 2,038,987.

The cam-ring 3 is suitably anchored to the housing C, which may be part of the gear case or an additional housing rigidly supported against rotation. A ring 4 is mounted inside the camring 3 and has projections forming abutments extending into the space between the collar I and the cam-ring 3, adapted to engage the rollers 2 and circumferentially slightly displace them upon a differential rotary shifting of the ring 4, in order to set the locking rollers 2 in a position Where they will not lock lar I, and thereby set the 'back roll-stop out-offunctioning, as when it is desired to allow the car to roll backward or to drive the automobile rearward.

V The setting mechanism comprises balls 5, preferably three, which are radially movable in a in the cam-ring 3. The radially inward movement of each ball engages a counterbore suitably tapered inthe abutment ring 4, in order to lock the abutment ring in the predetermined position for setting the back-stop into functioning condition. The balls 5 are in turn forced radially inward by the'floating-ring 6, having suitable taper 1 and a locking taper 8, of such a degree that the tapered faces permit the floating-ring 6 to be forced over the balls 5 by the spring 9 of predetermined strength; A releasing fork ii] is adapted to engage the face of the floating-ring 6, and is suitably connected to the reverse-drive shifting member of the transmission gear shift, so that the fioating-ring 6 may be forced against the pressure of spring 9 to release the balls 5, and when so done the slight differential rotation of abutment ring 4 forces the balls radially outward and produces the condition of out-of-functioning by the engagement of the abutments with the locking rollers 2.

A second series of holes in the cam-ring 3 ac commodate balls 5 which in turn are adapted each to engage a counterbore in the abutment ring in a 'position differentially offset circumferentially from the counterbore adapted to engage the balls 5. These balls 5 are in turn engaged by the floating-ring beveled inner face, in a manner that provides for forcing the balls '5 radially inward when the floating-ring is displaced against the pressure of spring 9, and in this manner positively sets the abutment ring in the circumferential position that causes the abutments to engage the rollers 2, and positively hold the backroll-stop out-of-functioning position.

the cam-ring to the 001- I In order that the floating-ring be held set definitely in out-of-functioning position, a pin or series of pins H are mounted, each in a bushing in the abutment-ring in a manner permitting a limited radial movement. The outer end of the pin engages the beveled inner face of the floatingring 6 when the mechanism is set out-of-functioning, and by this slight radial movement the inner end of the pin is retracted so that it engages the outer surface of a sleeve 12, which has a spiral groove or grooves on its outer surface.

, Upon such retraction of the locking pins H, the

sleeve IZ'is forced by a spring l3 to the position for the pin to ride on its outer surface and in the spiral groove or grooves. When so set the floating-ring is locked in out-of-functioning position and the locking-pin ll cannot move inwardly until the releasing sleeve I2 is turned by forward rotation of the drive shaft to which it is connected by an intermediate sleeve M, which has cam faces l5 engaged by a ball or balls l6 forming with the cam faces l5 a one-way clutch, by which the rearward rotation of the shaft turns the sleeve l4 without turning the releasing feed sleeve I2, but so soon as the shaft turns in forward direction the ball l6 engages the abrupt end of one of the cam recesses 15 and positively rotates the release sleeve l2, and by the engagement of the spiral groove on its outer surface with the inner end of the locking pin l l the sleeve I2 is fed against the pressure of spring l3 until the inner end of the pin H moves radially inward over the beveled and reduced outer surface of the feed ring 12, and thereby moves the locking pin radially inward by the reaction of the beveled inner face of the floating-ring 6 due to the pressure of spring 9 on the floating-ring. This latter condition occurs when the reverse gear shifting connections are not set for'reverse drive.

By having the feed ring 12 connected by the one-way clutch to the ring l2, which 'in turn is splined to the drive shaft or drive sleeve, there is no rotation of the ring l2 with its outer grooves when the car is being driven or is rolling backward, and therefore there is no wearing of the locking pin or pins H, which otherwise would be the case by the inner end of the pin over-riding the groove on the outer surface of the feed sleeve.

While the major locking elements to prevent back rolling are shown associated with a sleeve splined to a drive shaft, they may be otherwise combined directly or indirectly in any manner that causes the necessary response tothe forward and rearward movement of the car, in order to effect the desired braking or locking of the driven wheels, and thereby hold the car on a hill or an incline against back-rolling, and to accomplish the result by preventing the car from starting to roll backward, but also to assure under all conditions instant release of the back-roll-lock under any load or strain in practical operation by a voluntary action of the driver, with substantially no greater effort than is normally necessary for the shifting of a speed change mechanism into reverse.

While I have shown in the accompanying drawingand specifically described one embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that variations may be made in design, as well asdimensions and material, and what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a roll-back-stop, means for locking a rotating power shaft against rearward motion, means to hold said locking'means out-of-functioning position including two cooperating sleeves,

one having means to release the back-roll-stop into functioning position and the other sleeve engaging said sleeve by over-running clutch connections.

2. An automobile reverse control mechanism of the character described, having setting mechanism and cooperating automatic release means, interengaging locking means for said setting mechanism, so constructed and arranged whereby upon the reverse control being set out-of-functioning the locking means are stationary and without Wear upon reverse movement of the car and positive drive means for releasing said looking means upon forward movement of the car.

3. In a roll-back-stop, means for locking a car against rearward movement, means to hold said locking means out-of-functioning position when it is intentionally desired to permit the car to assume rearward motion, positively actuated means to automatically release said out-of-functioning locking means. and locking and releasing parts so constructed and arranged whereby the locking means are stationary upon rearward movement of the car.

4. In means for braking control of a motor car or the like, means for positively preventing the car from starting to roll backward, means for automatically setting the back-rolling-stop into functioning position including two cooperating sleeves, means interconnecting the sleeves whereby backrolling of the car causes an over-riding of one sleeve with respect to the other and forward motion of the car locks the sleeve for turning in the direction of forward motion, and cooperating members actuated by one of said sleeves to release the roll-back-stop into functioning position.

5. Automobile reverse control mechanism having a plurality of one-way locking rollers operating with a cylindrical surface on a part associated with the driven shaft and a non-revolving cam-ring, setting means to lock the camring rigidly with a stationary member to set the mechanism in locking position, means to automatically throwsaid setting means to lock the cam-ring, means to prevent automatic setting subject to the control of predetermined forward revolving of the driven shaft, and means to release said prevention means for rotating with the shaft when the shaft is turning in the direction for rearward movement of the automobile.

6. A roll-back-stop associated with a propeller shaft of a car, having means to positively relieve instantly all resistance to locking strain when functioning, automatic means to lock the same out-of-funotioning position, positively driven means associated therewith to permit release of said automatic locking means only by predetermined rotation of the propeller shaft for movement of the car in forward direction, so constructed and arranged whereby said means for permitting release will not turn with the shaft when the shaft is rotating for rearward driving of a car.

7. In a roll-back-stop for automobiles, setting mechanism to lock the stop out-of-functioning position, releasing means actuated by predetermined rotation of a driving element in the direction of forward movement of the car to automatically set the stop into condition for functioning, means therefor for positively driving said releasing means said releasing being so constructed and arranged whereby during rearward drive or rolling of the car the setting mechanism has the lock-engaging parts stationary to avoid wear.

8. An automobile reverse control mechanism of the character described, having setting Inechanism and cooperating automatic release feeding members, inter-engaging locking means for said setting mechanism and cooperating automatic release feeding members, so constructed and arranged whereby on reverse movement of the car or drive shaft the release feed members remain stationary.

LINDSAY H. BROWNE. 

